Street Violence: Challenging Contemporary “Gang Talk”

There is a heightened interest in serious youth violence in the UK, particularly involving knives and guns. Young people are again under scrutiny – especially young black men from urban areas. These contemporary fears seem to attach to the idea of ‘the gang’ – a definition that can be applied to a wide spectrum of very different street groups.

Gang discourse can have the effect of neglecting discussions of key relevant issues – such as poverty, racism and, structural inequalities that affect urban young people in their social worlds.

Join us as London Met’s Youth Studies course brings together academics and practitioners who specialise in work with young people, exploring possible solutions, as well as considering how best to merge theory and practice.